Matchume Zango

BIO

Matchume Zango is a traditional artist from Mozambique.

Zango plays and produce traditional instruments such as timbila, mbira, xitende and djembe drums. Zango graduated from the University of Cape Town (UCT) with a Bachelor Degree in Music Performance. As of February 2020, he was planning to pursue a Master’s degree in Music (specialising in performance and dissertation in music technology) at UCT. While studying at UCT, he lectured at the university and began composing and performing traditional, experimental and fusion music for various departments including theater, dance and cinema. 

In September 2017, he released his first solo album titled 'Wata M'cande' followed by Tatei Watu in 2018.

He has performed, taught and conducted artistic and cultural projects in such countries as Austria, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Denmark, France, Gabon, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Madagascar, Mali, Norway, Portugal, Reunion Island, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland and Zimbabwe.

He has collaborated with international artists in music, theater, dance and film, and recorded albums with Timbila Muzimba, MoSomeBigNoise and Kubilai Khan.

In 2018, Zango embarked on a three-year project which involves artists from Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and is supported by Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council. The Nzango Artist Residency and Nzango Studio are one of ten grantees in the SADC region chosen to be part of Pro Helvetia’s Regional Arts Programme. The project focused on research and documentation of an older generation of traditional musicians and their music, music creation and audio-technical workshops for musicians from the region, and the circulation of new music coming out of these encounters.